2017 49ers NFL Draft Prologue: Head Coach & Quarterback Marriage, the Patrick Mahomes Connection
By Jonah Burros
The San Francisco 49ers need a franchise quarterback, and Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes may wind up being the answer for head coach Kyle Shanahan in the 2017 NFL Draft.
In all the world of sports, you would be hard pressed to find a more symbiotic relationship between two careers than that of a head coach and quarterback.
Head coaches are so reliant on quarterbacks, that many jobs have been lost due to poor play.
Young QBs rely on a head coach just as much for scheme fit and tutelage.
San Francisco 49ers
If a head coach and Co. draft a quarterback, especially early, there is even more of a tie in all things tribunal. They are effectively “married” through the constructs of their situation and are judged so; “I thee wed.”
The San Francisco 49ers are again in a fascinating position this year, in regards to everything quarterback. With a celebrated quarterbacking guru, like new head coach Kyle Shanahan taking the proverbial wheel, much speculation is in play how the 49ers address the QB situation over the long term.
Assuming Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins is not involved in the franchise’s thinking at the moment, newly acquired free-agent QB Brian Hoyer and the NFL Draft are paramount.
Hoyer is a comfortable teacher and implementer of the Shanahan offense, due to his time with Shanahan and the Cleveland Browns in 2014. But Hoyer’s age and perceived ceiling remove him from the long-term discussion.
Shanahan has been quoted in depth on his priorities when evaluating a quarterback, as seen in the video above.
The top-two things that he looks for are an exceptional arm and a fearless approach to the position, as per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco’s February 2 interview.
Shanahan is in the unique position of having a six-year contract and a trusted current starter to “groom” his future pistoleer. With time and know-how, you can bet on him focusing on a prospect’s ceiling rather than his readiness.
Enter Texas Tech prospect Patrick Mahomes — a player who has a few unique traits that could warrant an early round nuptial.
Mahomes throwing talent is superior to that of his peers in this class. He is widely considered to have the biggest arm in years by analysts and scouts. The angles he is able to throw from, his long ball accuracy, power, the ability to rifle in shots on the run and his prowess at doing it from sporadic footing has him alone in raw-arm talent.
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Shanahan equates these types of things to a “natural passer,” and Mahomes comes across as the only QB prospect in this class who could be filed here.
Next, and rare in its own rights, is the fearlessness the young man shows more of than other candidates. I can only presume this trait gives a natural calmness while mastering very small windows of opportunity.
Mahomes is big-bodied, athletic and can take a hit. He personally reminds me of Brett Favre in his prime, but more athletic and with a bigger arm, but having sub-par mechanics and zero pro knowledge. The Texas Tech product also falls in as a character guy with superior work ethic, chalk time and credibility with his teammates.
The majority of Mahomes critics focus on his mechanics, lack of pro knowledge and risk-taking. Shanahan seems to be just the type of marriage that would afford this young gun the time and coaching he would need to elevate these very coachable things.
Next: 49ers NFL Draft Positional Preview: Quarterback
If you’re going to tie the knot with a prospect and commit long term, go with what you like.